The redevelopment of Wimbledon’s No.1 Court

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has appointed UK-based architecture firm, KSS, to provide a full range of architectural and design services for the redevelopment of the No.1 Court at Wimbledon.

The No.1 Court upgrades will include the construction of a new fixed and bespoke retractable roof providing cover to the entire playing surface allowing for uninterrupted play throughout The Championships.

The AELTC took the early decision to adopt BIM for the project, setting out clear contractual requirements and clear benefits have already been seen from a design coordination point of view. This has enabled KSS – a leading sports architecture practice, specialising in football stadia and training centres – to progress the coordination of a complex building, roof geometry and steel structure with an extensive building services requirement serving not only the internal hospitality suites, restaurants and back of house spaces, but also the seating bowl and most importantly the grass playing surface on the No.1 Court itself.

The reconfigured No.1Court includes the improvement of public facilities, 15 new hospitality suites on a completely remodelled level, catering facilities, commentary boxes and improved seating bringing the overall capacity to over 12,000 seats.

In addition, the redevelopment will provide the backdrop to a major new landscaped entrance plaza, whilst also providing spectacular views over the outer courts, which is part of a wider masterplan at Wimbledon.

No.1 Court’s existing static roof.

Proposed retractable roof.

The new retractable roof will improve the distinctive character of the No.1 Court and allow for natural light to reach the grass on the court creating optimum spectator comfort and player performance maintaining the tradition of the historic show court. In 2009, similar work was carried out at Wimbledon with a 16m-high retractable roof installed at Centre Court ushering in a new era at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

KSS will be progressing the designs up to construction, which will be phased after this year’s Championships over a four-year period and is scheduled to be completed in 2019. The new designs will conserve Wimbledon’s unique and special heritage, enhancing the environment and spectator experience, providing an exciting future for the AELTC retaining its status as the premier Grand Slam event in world tennis.

Project team:

Architects: KSS

Client: AELTC

Mechanical Engineers: M-E Engineers

Structural Engineers: Thornton Tomasetti

Images courtesy: KSS

Main image caption: No.1 Court, Wimbledon, Level 4 Suite.

NB: Our Q2/Summer ’15 edition of PanStadia & Arena Management magazine will include features on BIM in stadia design and the latest innovations in roofing design & engineering, as well as a UK Country Focus highlighting the key sports venue developments.

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